City of Dreams recently hosted a media launch event to mark the official opening of the highly anticipated Hard Rock Poker Lounge. Located on Level Two of City of Dreams Casino, the Hard Rock Poker Lounge boasts fully integrated bar and lounge facilities. Perfect for private parties and special events, the Hard Rock Poker Lounge offers 9 tables, great music, and combines the excitement of the Hard Rock experience with the thrill and suspense of Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

To celebrate the grand opening, a "Rock Star Poker Daily Rewards"* promotion is now available for players to experience the thrill of Texas Hold 'Em Poker and receive a bonus Match Play Voucher when they get a Royal Flush, Straight Flush or Four of a Kind. Total prizes for the promotion total HK$1 million. The promotion lasts until September 30, 2010.

Hard Rock Calling is 3 days of incredible music, great people, and good times, right in the middle of London. One of Europe's best summer music fests, this year's headliners were Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, and Sir Paul McCartney. But those superstars weren't the only musicians on hand, as a ton of other bands and the amazing Hard Rock Crew helped make this a weekend to remember for the lucky Londoners and world travellers who trekked it to Hyde Park. We just wanted to share some pics with you. You can check out more photos at the Hard Rock Cafe Page on Facebook.

06.30: On this day in 1975, Cher hopped back in the marriage saddle, this time with Greg Allman. The couple married just four days after Sonny and Cher called it quits. The fickle Cher then filed for divorce from Allman ten days after they married, but the pair stuck it out until 1979 before calling it quits for good. Did we say fickle? We meant, "Holy moly, Cher. Maybe you should give this marriage thing a little more thought before just going out and marrying the next rock star you meet at a party."

07.01: Blondie’s Debbie Harry was born on this day in 1946. Fronting the not-really-punk punk band in the '70s means she'll forever and ever (or as long as music historians ponder that time period in music history) be remembered in the same breath as The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, The Clash, and X. Actually, now that we look at that grouping, we realize that the punk movement of the late '70s encompassed many bands that didn't carry that "punk" sound, but were, instead, just playing what they wanted, how they wanted, damn the critics and mainstream opinion. That's fairly punk. Happy b-day, punk rocker Debbie!

07.03: On this day in 1969, Rolling Stones founding member and guitarist, Brian Jones, was found dead in his swimming pool not even a month after having departed the Stones for "musical reasons," whatever that means. His death was labeled "death by misadventure" by the coroner, but there are still people, to this day, who claim that he was murdered. We may never know exactly how he died. What we do know, however, is that Brian's role in the Stones lineup had gone from frontman and lead guitar in the early days to second fiddle next to Mick and Keith, whose songwriting skills greatly outweighed Brian's swagger. Next to them, he really didn't have much to offer, so he left. For "musical reasons."

07.03: On this day in 1971, The Doors frontman Jim Morrison died in a Paris bathtub. His official cause of death was heart failure, but many fans speculated it was the result of a covered-up drug overdose. Their theory can never be proven, however, because French law did not require an autopsy. The third of three '60s talents to die in less than a year, following Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, Morrison had retreated to Paris to gather himself after the chaos of the previous years, during the rise of The Doors and his subsequent run-ins with the law and Ed Sullivan. With these deaths, many people considered the '60s truly and officially over, in spirit and in music. We could speculate all day and night about what kind of music Jim, Jimi, and Janis would've made had they survived themselves, but that kind of thought experiment is fairly fruitless. Instead, we just like to enjoy what was left behind. Long live The Lizard King!

07.04: What a wonderful world, indeed, as American jazz great Louis Armstrong, or Satchmo as we love to call him, was born on this day in 1900. One of the greatest trumpeters and bandleaders during the big band and swing eras of jazz, inarguably the most popular time for jazz, Armstrong's amazingly raspy, deep, and smokey voice will, in our mind, forever reverberate through our heads with the tune "What A Wonderful World." What a great song and an amazing talent. For real, seek out his work, a greatest hits collection, whatever, and you will not be disappointed. Happy birthday, Louie. You are one of the original rock stars of jazz.

ORLANDO, Fla., June 23, 2010 – Hard Rock International, one of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands, announced that Nelson Parker has been named Head of Development, Americas for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos. In an effort to grow Hard Rock’s portfolio, Parker will handle the development function in the Americas for Hotels & Casinos, which includes identifying potential locations and franchise, management and equity partners, as well as planning and executing development initiatives for the proposed properties. In this role, he will report to Michael Shindler, Executive Vice President of Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos.

Parker brings with him a 12-year track record of achievement in leading and contributing to the strategic growth, diversification and profitability of publicly and privately held organizations within gaming, hospitality and private equity. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Development for Foxwoods Development Company where he was responsible for leading Commercial and Native American resort casino development activities. Prior to joining Foxwoods, Parker was the Corporate Director of Development for Argosy Gaming Company where he played a lead role in identifying and evaluating domestic and international strategic growth opportunities. Additionally, Parker held senior positions in development for several Midwestern private equity and leveraged buyout firms.

“Nelson brings extensive gaming and hospitality development and transactions experience and will greatly impact our efforts to seize new opportunities in the future,” said Shindler. “He is an ideal fit for the Hotels & Casinos brand. His knowledge and experience complement our current staff – we welcome Nelson and look forward to the valuable role he will fill at Hard Rock.”

Parker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Transylvania University in Lexington, K.Y.

About Hard Rock International With a total of 165 venues in 52 countries, including 132 cafes and 14 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Penang and Singapore. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Punta Cana, scheduled to open in 2010; Panama, scheduled to open in 2012; and Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013. Hard Rock International is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

Watch Sir Paul McCartney at Hard Rock Calling in London's Hyde Park this Sunday, June 27, on YouTube. The Born HIV Free campaign (learn more at www.bornhivfree.org) will be broadcasting the show exclusively on their YouTube channel beginning at 8:30 p.m. U.K. time. This will be the first YouTube concert from Europe to be streamed globally on YouTube. Watch one of today’s living music legends performing in the name of this important cause. Don't miss this incredible event!

Hot on the heels of Everclear and Cowboy Mouth bringing down the square (Celebrity Square in Myrtle Beach, that is), Hard Rock Cafe Myrtle Beach is continuing with its summer concert series this week. Well, all summer long, actually. Hence, the name. Live music is presented nearly every night of the week for the lucky ducks who find themselves in the party environs of Myrtle Beach, either by way of vacation or residence.

Most shows this summer are FREE, but there are a few select shows that are well worth the price of a ticket, including Pat Benetar & Neil Giraldo on July 5 and Little River Band on July 8. This Satuday, June 26, Blues Traveler (yes, that Blues Traveler) will be amping up Celebrity Square with their bluesy roots rock and harmonica-filled jams (thank you, John Popper). Tickets are available in the Rock Shop at the Cafe for $25 advance/$30 day of show, so stop by to get yours today. We'll see you this Saturday! Click here to check out the entire summer event schedule.

ORLANDO, Fla., June 23, 2010 – Hard Rock International, one of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands, announced that Nelson Parker has been named Head of Development, Americas for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos. In an effort to grow Hard Rock’s portfolio, Parker will handle the development function in the Americas for Hotels & Casinos, which includes identifying potential locations and franchise, management and equity partners, as well as planning and executing development initiatives for the proposed properties. In this role, he will report to Michael Shindler, Executive Vice President of Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos.

Parker brings with him a 12-year track record of achievement in leading and contributing to the strategic growth, diversification and profitability of publicly and privately held organizations within gaming, hospitality and private equity. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Development for Foxwoods Development Company where he was responsible for leading Commercial and Native American resort casino development activities. Prior to joining Foxwoods, Parker was the Corporate Director of Development for Argosy Gaming Company where he played a lead role in identifying and evaluating domestic and international strategic growth opportunities. Additionally, Parker held senior positions in development for several Midwestern private equity and leveraged buyout firms.

“Nelson brings extensive gaming and hospitality development and transactions experience and will greatly impact our efforts to seize new opportunities in the future,” said Shindler. “He is an ideal fit for the Hotels & Casinos brand. His knowledge and experience complement our current staff – we welcome Nelson and look forward to the valuable role he will fill at Hard Rock.”

Parker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Transylvania University in Lexington, K.Y.

About Hard Rock International With a total of 165 venues in 52 countries, including 132 cafes and 14 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Penang and Singapore. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Punta Cana, scheduled to open in 2010; Panama, scheduled to open in 2012; and Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013. Hard Rock International is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

To say that Melissa Etheridge has some dedicated fans is like saying that The Rolling Stones had a couple hits. Performing for the 2nd installment of Grammy Artists Revealed series, Hard Rock Cafe New York became, for the night, the place to be for the lucky few Etheridge fans who were able to gain admittance to this exclusive, intimate event. Did they have fun? They were enraptured, entranced, and in Etheridge heaven.

Grammy Artists Revealed "gives music fans the opportunity to see their favorite artist perform songs from their catalog in an up-close-and-personal, storyteller-style format, and allows artists to share anecdotes about their musical journey to the GRAMMYs." From hits like "Come To My Window" to great covers like "Me & Bobby McGee" (one of our personal faves), Etheridge did not dissapoint. Does she ever? Hell, no. She brings it each and every time. Just like she's gonna do this Saturday night at Hard Rock Calling in London's Hyde Park.

We just wanted to thank Melissa for being such an amazing partner with Hard Rock for our annual Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, for being such an amazing person, and for always, always putting on one of the best live shows this side of paradise.

All over the world, this past June 14, Hard Rock Cafes celebrated the anniversary of the day the very first Hard Rock Cafe opened its doors in London, 1971. We call it Founders' Day, and we like to reminisce about the olden days, about those first years in London, having the biggest names in music belly up to the bar to order a pint and some good ol' American grub, having Rita waiting on the likes of Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend.

Each year, we celebrate by having a party. Some of of us even dress up in silly '70s clothes. The most important way we mark this day, however, is by celebrating those amongst us who give so much of themselves everyday: police, firefighters, EMTs, and other civil servants. On Founders' Day anyone with a civil badge is able to go to a particiapting Hard Rock Cafe and get a Legendary Burger at 1971 prices. Many Cafes also celebrate in their communities by raising money for a local charity, cleaning up the area, or volunteering. We just wanted to share a few photos of local Hard Rocks celebrating one of our favorite days.

06.21: On this day in 2001, the incredible boogie and blues legend, John Lee Hooker, passed away. He was 80. From his early days singing spirituals in Mississippi to rocking Hastings Street in Detroit in the late 1940s, from influencing early British invasion bands like The Animals to The Yardbirds (who, themselves, became very influential) to his resurgence in the late '80s and throughout the '90s, Hooker's momumental stature in both the blues and rock is something to behold. Pick up a collection of his early works or access his magic through one of the numerous recorded live sets, and you will not be dissapointed.

06.21: Pumpkin reunited? Billy Corgan sure hoped so on this day in 2005. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman took out full-page advertisements in two newspapers stating, “I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams." Looks like they got the message. The band reunited in 2007. Well, Billy reunited with Jimmy Chamberlin, the drummer. Bass player D'arcy and lead guitar James Iha wanted nothing to do with the band anymore, which hadn't had any kind of democratic input (and really not even then) since their first, and arguably greatest album, Gish (also arguably one of the best albums of the '90s, as well as one of the best debut albums of all time). Chamberlin lasted almost four years, until 2009, when he, again, split with Corgan, saying, "I can no longer commit all of my energy into something that I don't fully possess." Take that as you will. We love Smashing Pumpkins, but the band could just as easily be called The Billy Corgan Band or Billy's Band or something like that because it's never been anything more than a vehicle for Billy's amazing, and narcissistic, musical tendencies.

06.22: On this day in 1981, Mark David Chapman plead guilty to murdering John Lennon. To this day, this is the one rock 'n' roll death we wholly wish we could go back in time to prevent. Lennon's death, unlike those of so many of his overdosing '60s compatriots, made no sense, whatsoever. Having just released, three weeks prior to his death, the monumental and breathtaking Double Fantasy album, Lennon seemed ready to retake the rock world, to show everyone why his voice needed to be heard yet again. Mark David Chapman's insanity saw to it that we would never have this. We sincerely hope he's never released from Attica prison.

06.24: Rumors? No, it's true. On this day in 1942, Mick Fleetwood, he of the band which carried his name into fame and infamy, he who co-starred (believe it) in the '80s awesometastic Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man, he who makes many a funny face as he bangs furiously upon his drum kit, was born.

06.26: On this day in 1975, Salvatore Bono and Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere officially called it quits. Best known as Sonny & Cher, the duo's biggest hit, “I Got You Babe,” turned out to be something of a misnomer in the long run, as they, obviously no longer had each other. Cher went on to solo singing success (think of the killer battleship-shot, what-the-hell-is-she-wearing video for "If I Could Turn Back Time") and acting success (the never-gets-old Moonstruck), and Sonny went on to become a U.S. Representative (R-California). Yes, two very divergent paths, but one common beginning. Amazing how things turn out, isn't it?

06.26: Nobody knew it at the time, but on this day in 1977, Elvis Presley played what turned out to be his final concert at Indianapolis' Market Square Arena. Long removed from his '50s heydays and his late-'60s comeback, The King passed away less than two months later, leaving a gaping hole in rock 'n' roll.

06.27: On this day in 1993, Lyle Lovett scored one for the everyman when he tied the knot with Julia Roberts. Yes, an odd combination, indeed, but just another in a long line of musician/celebrity marriages, as far as we're concerned. They played into the stereotype just as well as anyone else, with their "love 'em and leave 'em" attitude and their candle that burns twice as bright shtick. Everyone thinks it was Lyle that made out good with that relationship, but we say it was Julia because, well, Lyle is an awesome musician & singer and she is not.

06.27: On this day in 2002, John Entwistle of The Whodied in his sleep of a cocaine-induced heart attack in Las Vegas. One of the most influential and vital bass players every to slap and pluck four strings, Entwhistle opened up the bass and showed everyone that, far from simply providing essential rhythm, his instrument was the groove, was the anchor for The Who's rock and roll and could take the lead in the right hands. Namely, his.